Well packer



Jan. 2, 1968 v I J. E. EDWARDS, JR 3,351,209

' WELL PACKER Filed Feb. 23, 1966 4Sheets-Sheet 1 U055 EDMRDS JR.

7 L2; INVENTOR.

147 7 O/P/VE/S Jan. 2, 1968 J. E. EDWARDS, JR 3,361,209

" I WELL PACKER Filed Feb. 23, 1966 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 X 1%? 3 BY w Jan. 2, 1968 EDWARDS, J 3,361,209

' WELL PACKER Filed Feb. 23, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 JOEBE WARDS R. INVElQ/TOJR.

BY a

iii/Z5 Jan. 2, 1968 J. E. EDWARDS, JR 3,361,209

WELL PACK ER Filed Feb. 23, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,361,209 WELL PACKER Joe E. Edwards, Jr., Houston, Tex., assignor to Brown Oil Tools, Inc., Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Feb. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 529,305 8 Claims. (Cl. 166-120) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well tools and relates particularly to a retrievable well packer or anchor apparatus adapted to be selectively set in a well casing or similar conduit disposed within a well bore.

In the drilling of petroleum wells, a plurality of producing formations is often encountered in a single well bore. Certain regulatory bodies insist that each producing formation be separately produced. In the past, such production has been accomplished by multiple completions wherein each separate formation is produced through a single tubing string. However, formations are often encountered which do not justify the multiple completion equipment, but, if they could be produced in a manner to satisfy their regulatory bodies, would justify production. It has been the practice to produce such wells through a single tubing string with Well packers set between each formation and with valve means provided to selectively produce from only one formation at a time.

Difficulty has been encountered in providing retrievable packers for such installations and being able to satisfy the requirements of the regulatory body by testing the set of each packer individually to assure that there is no leak-age across the packer.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a well packer apparatus which may be selectively set responsive to the pressure of a hydraulic fluid and retrieved by a straight upward pull on the tubing string to which the packer is connected.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved well packer which may be set hydraulically and having such setting controlled from the surface so that the well packer remains in unset position until the packer is positively selected for setting from the surface of the well bore.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved well packer which is retrievable by a straight upward pull on the tubing string to which it is mounted and which is set responsive to a fluid ressure only when positively selected for setting.

Still another object is to provide an improved compact and economical retrievable well packer which is held in inactive position until selected for setting and, thereafter, is set by hydraulic pressure within the tubing string to which the well packer is connected.

Still a further. object is to provide a selectively set well packer of the character described which is set by hydraulic pressure, released by an upward pull and is held against longitudinal movement in both directions; said packer including a releasing assembly which is not subjected to excess pressure from either direction which might otherwise actuate said releasing assembly.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be described hereinafter, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a well packer and anchor apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention and showing the same in its unset position as it is run into a well bore;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view showing the release of the 3,361,209 Patentedl Jan. 2, 1968 selective means blocking communication to the hydraulically actuated setting means;

FIGURE 3 is a similar view showing the apparatus with its packing element in set position and its anchoring element in unset position;

FIGURE 4 is a similar view illustrating the position of the parts of the apparatus with its packing assembly set and with its anchoring assembly partly set;

FIGURE 5 is another similar view illustrating the position of the parts of the apparatus with its packing and anchoring assemblies set;

FIGURE 6 is another similar view illustrating the posi tions of the parts of the apparatus after it has been released;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic illustration of the application of the well packer apparatus to separate the multiple producing formations in a single well bore;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken along line 8-8 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 10 is another horizontal, cross-sectional view taken along line 1010 in FIGURE 1.

As shown in the drawings, the preferred form of the well tool apparatus of the present invention includes a main tubular support or mandrel 10 upon which is mounted a packing or sealing assembly A, the anchoring assembly B, the pressure actuated means, generally indicated at D, the releasing assembly R and the selectively releasable means E closing communication to the pressure-actuated means D. The anchoring assembly B is located between the packing assembly A and the pressure actuating means D. The selectively releasable means E which blocks the communication to the pressure-actuated means D is positioned within the upper interior of the assembly and has an internal configuration which allows it to be selectively actuated as by use of a wire line tool.

When the selectively releasable means E has been actuated, fluid pressure from within the tubular support 10 is conducted to the pressure-actuated means D to effect setting of the sealing assembly B into sealing position with the well pipe or casing C and, thereafter, to effect a setting of the anchoring assembly B into set or pipe-gripping position with the well casing C. When in set position, the apparatus will seal against pressures and will be anchored against movement in both directions within the well casing C which is disposed within the well bore. The releasing assembly R is mounted above the packing assembly A and is provided to prevent premature release of the well packer apparatus and to allow complete release and retrieval by an upward pull on the tubing string supporting the well packer apparatus. The well packer apparatus as illustrated is adapted to be connected to the support or tubing string T by a coupling 12. As shown, the release assembly R provides a releasable connection between the upper and lower abutments within the upper portion of the well tool.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the tubular support 10 is threadedly engaged with the collar 14 which, in turn, is threadedly engaged to the coupling 12. The lower end of tubular support 10 connects to the tubing string T extending below the apparatus.

The selectively releasable means E includes the valve member 16 which is positioned on the interior of coupling 12 and collar 14 and has an internal configuration suitable for engagement by only one of a plurality of valve actuating tools, as hereinafter explained. The exterior surface of valve member 16 is recessed to receive the projecting portions of the plugs 18 which are positioned in the collar 14. The plugs 18 are provided with a central bore 20 in communication with the groove 22 around the interior of the coupling 12. The bore 20 in the plugs 18 extends inwardly to a point beyond the inner surface of the collar 14 but terminates short of the inner end of plugs 18 to close communication between the groove 22 and the interior of the tubing string T. The groove 22 is in communication with the passages 24 which extend downwardly through the collar 14 to communicate with the pressure-actuated means D as hereinafter more fully explained.

The packing assembly A is mounted on the packing sleeve 26 which is threadedly secured to the collar 28. The collar 28 surrounds the lower portion of the collar 14 and is connected thereto by the shear pins 38. The packing assembly A also includes the upper ring 32 which is threadedly secured to the collar 28, the packing elements 34 and 36, the central packing follower 38 and the lower ring 40, all of which are mounted in surrounding relationship to the packing sleeve 26. The snap ring 42 is positioned in a groove at the lower end of the packing sleeve 26 and engages the internal shoulder 44 on the lower ring 40 to retain the packing assembly A on the packing sleeve 26..

The anchoring assembly B is secured to the lower part of the packing assembly A by the threaded connection of the upper end of expander 46 with the lower ring 40. The anchoring assembly B includes the upper expander 46, the cage 48, the lower expander 58 and the gripping elements 52. The gripping elements 52 are positioned within the cage 48 for radial movement through the windows 54 in the cage and have inclined surfaces for engagement with the respective inclined surfaces of the upper and lower expanders 46 and 50. Initially, the cage 48 is connected to the upper expander 46 by the shear pins 56 and to the lower expander by the shear pins 58. Relative rotational movement of the components of the anchoring assembly B is prevented by the pins 68 which are secured into the upper expander 46 and extend outwardly into the slots 62 in the cage 48 and the pins 64 which are secured in the lower expander 50 and extend outwardly into the slots 66 in the cage 48.

The lower end of lower expander 58 functions as the piston of the pressure-actuated means D. The pressure chamber 68 in which the piston end of expander 50 is mounted is defined by the ring 70, outer sleeve 72, inner sleeve 74 and the lower end of lower expander 50. Outer sleeve 72 is secured to ring 70 by screws 76 and is releasably engaged to the lower expander 58 by shear pins 78. Inner sleeve 74 is threadedly engaged with ring '70 and extends upwardly surrounding and spaced outwardly from tubular support 10.

The upper end of inner sleeve 74- is retained by the releasing assembly R. The releasing assembly R includes snap ring 80 which is held in position by the depending skirt S2 of the collar 14 and by the upwardly facing shoulder 84 of collar 28. Relative movement of the release assembly parts is prevented until pins 30 are sheared by an upward pull on the tubing string T to release the parts as hereinafter described. As shown, the snap ring 80 is provided with internal teeth for engagement with the external teeth on the upper portion of inner sleeve 74.

With the parts positioned as shown, communication between the passage 24 and the pressure chamber 68 is provided by the space between the tubular support and the inner sleeve 74 and the port 86 extending through the lower portion of the inner sleeve 74 and communicating with the pressure chamber 68. Suitable seals are provided, such as O-rings, to maintain pressure within the pressure chamber 68.

A suitable locking means is provided in association with the pressure-actuated means D to hold the well packer in set position. The lower interior of the lower expander 50 is tapered outwardly to provide a tapered recess into which the locking slips 88 of such locking means are positioned. The sealing ring 90 is positioned between inner sleeve 74 and lower expander 50 under the locking slips 88. When exposed to pressure, the sealing ring 98 will urge the locking slips upwardly into the tapered recess for engagement with the outer surface of inner sleeve 74. The teeth on the inner surface of the locking slips face downwardly to allow the locking slips 88 to move upwardly with the lower expander when actuated by pressure, but to resist any downward movement of the lower expander 58 in relation to the inner sleeve 74. The snap ring 92 is positioned in the lower interior surface of lower expander immediately below the sealing ring to prevent the sealing ring from moving downwardly and blocking the communication of the port 86 into the pressure chamber 68.

With the apparatus as illustrated in FIGURE 1, it is properly positioned for running into the casing C. The components of the well tool are all held in inactive position by shear pins and the selectively releasable means E in position closing communication from the interior of the tubing string T to the pressure-actuated means D to prevent premature setting until the desired location within the well casing C is reached. The setting of the well tool is accomplished by opening the communication by moving the selectively releasable means E to expose the pressure-actuated means D to a fluid pressure which actuates the pressure actuated means D to move the lower expander 50 upwardly. This movement sets both the packing assembly A and the anchoring assembly B, as hereinafter more fully explained in detail. The actuation of the pressure-actuated means D to set the well tool does not disturb the releasing assembly R.

In FIGURE 2, it can be seen that the selectively releasable means E has been actuated by the well tool 94 and that the ball or plug 96 has been dropped through the tubing string to seat on the internal seat 98 formed in the tubular support 10.

The tool 94 has a configuration which is adapted to engage only the internal configuration of the valve member 16. The internal configuration of each valve member 16 will be different so that a different well tool 94 is required in order to actuate the correct assembly. Thus, by using the correct tool the well packer assembly is selectively set. As shown, the tool 94 is wire line operated. As soon as engagement between the well tool 94 and the valve member 16 is assured, the wire line is raised causing the valve member 16 to slide upwardly shearing the inner projection of plugs 18 in line with the interior surface of coupling 12 and collar 14. The valve member 16 is lifted a suflicient distance to uncover the bore 20 allowing communication from the interior of the tubing string through the bore 20, the groove 22, the passage 24 and the space between tubular support 10 and inner sleeve 74 and through the port 86 into the pressure chamber 68. The pressure within the chamber 68 exerts a force urging the lower expander 50 upwardly within the chamber 68. The shear pins 56, 58 and 78 all resist such force. Pressure also exerts a downward force on the ring 70, but it is held by its connection to inner sleeve 74 and the releasing assembly R connection to inner sleeve 74. Since it is desired that in setting the apparatus of the present invention the packing assembly be moved to set position first, the shear pins 56, 58 and 78 are designed to have different strengths with shear pins 78 being the weakest, designed to fail first, and shear pins 58 being the strongest, designed to fail last.

The setting of the apparatus proceeds with pressure in the pressure chamber 68, moving lower expander 50, sealing ring 90 and locking slips 88 upwardly when shear pins 78 fail. The shear pins 56 and 58 hold and the whole anchoring assembly B moves upwardly as a unit, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. This upward movement is transmitted by the upper expander 46 to the lower ring 40 of the packing assembly A. As the ring 40 is moved upwardly with respect to the packing sleeve 26, the upper ring 32 will remain stationary to thereby compress the packing elements 34 and 36. The packing elements are of the usual type that, when compressed longitudinally, expand radially outward into sealing engagement with the,

interior of the well casing C. The position of the well tool with the packing assembly A set as described is illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The setting of packing assembly A stops further upward movement of the lower ring 46 and thus of the upper expander 46. With sulficient pressure building in pressure chamber 68 against this resistance, the force shears the shear pins 56. When the shear pins 56 have sheared, the

whole anchoring assembly 13 moves upwardly onto the 1 upper expander 46. Because of the wedging action of the upper expander 46 on the gripping elements 52, the gripping elements 52 are moved radially outward through the windows 54 in the cage 48 into gripping engagement with the casing C. With the gripping elements 52 firmly set against the interior of the casing C, further upward movement of the cage 48 is resisted by the engagement of the gripping elements 52 in the casing C. Against this resistance suificient force is developed in the pressure chamber 63 to shear the shear pins 58, and the lower expander 59 is moved upwardly under the gripping elements 52 to further wedge the gripping elements 52 outwardly into tight pipe-gripping position with the casing C. The position of the parts before the shearing of shear pins 58 is illustrated in FIGURE 4. The complete setting position of the apparatus is illustrated in FIGURE 5. With the locking slips 88 wedged against the incline surface on the lower expander 50 and the teeth of the locking slips 88 firmly engaged with the exterior of inner sleeve 74, a reduction in pressure within the pressure chamber 68 does not cause the unsetting of either of the assemblies A or B.

After this completion of the setting, the well tool 94 and ball 96 may be removed and pressure testing of the seal of the well packer commenced. It should be noted that while the shear pins 56, S8 and 78 have all been sheared in the setting of the apparatus, the shear pins 39 have not been sheared but remain intact during all normal operating conditions to which the apparatus is exposed. The shear pins 30 are protected from the setting forces by the engagement of the shoulder 84 against the snap ring 80 and the skirt 82. Additionally, pressure forces exerted on the sealing assembly A, when upwardly directed, are not exerted against the shear pins 30 and in a downwardly direction are exerted against the upper expander 46 to hold it against movement. With the apparatus completely set as illustrated in FIGURE 5, it holds pressure differentials from both directions and holds against movement in both directions. When the apparatus is subjected to a higher pressure from above the sealing assembly A, such pressure is exerted as a downward force on the upper expander 46. This force acts through the tapered surfaces to wedge the gripping elements 52 into tighter engagement with the casing C and to hold the apparatus in place. A high pressure from below the packing assembly A exerts an upward force against the ring 32 and the packing sleeve 26. This force is transmitted through the snap ring 80, through the inner sleeve 74 and the locking slips 88 to exert an upward force on the lower expander 50. This force also urges the gripping elements 52 into tighter engagement against the interior of the casing C to hold the well tool in place.

Release of the well packer is accomplished by lifting the tubing string T with a force sufficient to shear the shear pins 30. When the pins 36* are sheared, suflicient movement between the collar 14 and the collar 28 is allowed until the ring 100, which is secured to the collar 28, engages the shoulder 102 on the collar 14. This relative movement allows the snap ring 80, the inner sleeve 74 and the collar 28 to move downwardly a suflicient distance to allow the snap ring 80 to clear the lower edge of the skirt 82 on the collar 14. When the skirt 82 has been cleared, the snap ring 80 moves outwardly and is thereby disengaged from the upper end of the inner sleeve 74.

The relative movement of parts accomplishes the release of the packing assembly A and anchoring assembly even though the pressure-actuated means D remains locked in its extended position. When the ring engages the shoulder 102 on the collar 14, the collar 28, the ring 32 and the packing sleeve 26 are lifted with the lifting of the tubing string T thereby moving the packing assembly A into released position. Further upward movement causes the snap ring 42 to engage the shoulder 44 on the ring 40 to retract the upper expander 46 from under the gripping elements 52. When the pins 60 engage the upper end of the slot 62, further upper movement rocks the gripping element 52 off the lower expander 50 thereby completing the release of the anchoring assembly B. When desired, the teeth on the gripping elements may be slightly flattened at the lower end of each of the gripping elements to provide a release action as more completely disclosed and explained in the pending application of Cicero C. Brown, Ser. No. 299,982, filed Aug. 5. 1963, and entitled, Anchoring Means Assembly.

With the anchoring assembly B completely released, the well tool may then be retrieved by pulling it out of the well casing C. Since the inner sleeve 74 has been disconnected from the tubular support 10, the shoulder 194 on the lower portion of tubular support 10, is provided to engage the ring 70 to assure the lifting of the complete apparatus on retrieval from the well bore.

The application of the well packer of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 7. The three producing formations F-l, F-Z and F-3 are spanned by the single casing C. The tubing string T, which is lowered in the casing C, is provided with the three well packers constructed in accordance with the present invention P-l, P-2 and P-3 and the sleeve valve-s V-1, V-2 and V-3 positioned in the tubing string to be in communication with the three producing formations, respectively. The casing C is perforated at the producing formations. As shown in the drawing, the landing plug L has been dropped through the tubing string T and landed in the lower portion thereof below the lowest sleeves valve V-3.

Through manipulation of suitable wire line tools, the selectively releasable means E of the packer P-3 has been actuated and the packer P-3 has been moved into set position. At this point, testing may be accomplished to assure that the packer P-3 is properly set. The tubing is pressured with the valve V3 open, and, if no leakage is detected in the annulus between the casing and the tubing at the surface, then the annulus is pressured and the tubing checked. Assuming that the packer P3 has held against pressure in both directions, the valve V-3 is closed and the selectively releasable means E for the packer P-Z is opened by its special tool and the tubing pressured to set the packer P-2. With the packer P-Z set, pressure testing is accomplished by opening the valve V-2. When it is found that the packer P2 holds against pressures in both directions, the valve V-2 is closed, the selectively releasable means E for the packer P-1 is opened, and the tubing pressured to set the packer P-l. Packer P-l is tested after opening the sleeve valve V-l to assure that it holds pressure. With the packers in set position, the producing formations may be separately produced through the tubing string T by control of the sleeve valves V-l, V2 and V-3.

By utilizing the well packer of the present invention when the tubing string T, the well packers and the sleeve valves are to be removed from the casing C, it is only necessary to lift the tubing string T and the three packers 1, P-2 and P-3 release and are lifted to the surface.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the well tool of the present invention provides an improved compact and economical well packer which may be selectively set and which is retrievable by a straight lifting of the tubing string to which the well packer is attached.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: 11. A well tool adapted to be set in a well pipe including a tubular support, an anchoring assembly including gripping elements mounted on said tubular support, pressure-actuated means mounted on said tubular support for setting said anchoring assembly Within a Well pipe, a fluid communication to said pressure-actuated means, selectively releasable means closing said communication to said pressure-actuated setting means, setting of said anchoring assembly moving said gripping elements into pipe-gripping engagement with said well pipe to hold against longitudinal movement in both directions, and a releasing assembly providing a connection between said setting means and said tubular support whereby lifting of said tubular support effects release of said releasing assembly and unsets said anchoring assembly. 2. A well tool according to claim 1 wherein said selectively releasable means includes a valve member positioned within said tubular support and closing communication through said tubular support to said pressure-actuated setting means, said valve member being selectively movable responsive only to a single tool controlled at the surface whereby setting of said well tool is prevented until said valve member is moved by said tool. 3. A well tool according to claim 1 wherein said selectively releasable means includes a valve member positioned within said tubular support, and a plug positioned in said tubular support, closing the communication through said tubular support to said pressure-actuated setting means, and having an inner end engaged by said valve member, the inner end of said plug adapted to be sheared by movement of said valve member to open said communication through said mandrel to fluid under pressure for setting of said well tool. 4. A well tool according to claim 11 including a packing assembly mounted on said tubular support and adapted to be set by movement of said pressureactuated setting means.

5'. A well tool according to claim 1 including means locking said pressure-actuated setting means in set position to prevent release of said anchoring assembly.

6. A Well tool according to claim 1 wherein said releasing assembly includes a sleeve surrounding said tubular support and connected to said pressure-actuated means,

a collar surrounding said sleeve and said tubular support,

a first releasable connection between said collar and said tubular support, and

a second releasable connection between said collar and said sleeve,

said collar holding said second releasable connection inactive,

release of said first releasable connection between said tubular support and said collar eltecting release of said second releasable connection between said collar and said sleeve,

lifting of said tubular support relearing said first releasable connection between said collar and said tubular support, releasing said second releasable connection and unsetting said anchoring assembly from pipe-gripping engagement with said well pipe.

7. A well tool according to claim 6 wherein said second releasable connection comprises a snap ring engaging said sleeve, said collar holding said snap ring in engagement with said sleeve until said first releasable connection releases. 8. A well tool according to claim 6 wherein said sleeve is spaced radially outward from said tubular support to provide a passage forming a part of said fluid communicating means to said pressure-actuated means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,982,358 5/1961 Brown 16612O 3,122,295 2/1964 Brown et a1. 166120 X 3,180,419 4/1965 Cochran et a1. 166120 3,253,656 5/1966 Brown 166-134 3,283,824 11/1966 l-lotlman et al. 166134 3,294,172 12/1966 Brown 166-439 CHARLES I3, OCONNELL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WELL TOOL ADAPTED TO BE SET IN A WELL PIPE INCLUDING A TUBULAR SUPPORT, AN ANCHORING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING GRIPPING ELEMENTS MOUNTED ON SAID TUBULAR SUPPORT, PRESSURE-ANCHORED MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID TUBULAR SUPPORT FOR SETTING SAID ANCHORING ASSEMBLY WITHIN A WELL PIPE, A FLUID COMMUNICATION TO SAID PRESSURE-ACTUATED MEANS, SELECTIVELY RELEASABLY MEANS CLOSING SAID COMMUNICATION TO SAID PRESSURE-ACTUATED SETTING MEANS, SETTING OF SAID ANCHORING ASSEMBLY MOVING SAID GRIPPING ELEMENTS INTO PIPE-GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID WELL PIPE TO HOLD AGAINST LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, AND A RELEASING ASSEMBLY PROVIDING A CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID SETTING MEANS AND SAID TUBULAR SUPPORT WHEREBY LIFTING OF SAID TUBULAR SUPPORT EFFECTS RELEASE OF SAID RELEASING ASSEMBLY AND UNSETS SAID ANCHORING ASSEMBLY. 